Former Long Beach State Baseball Coach John Gonsalves passes
5/29/2021 10:28:00 PM | Baseball
“Coach G” is still the longest tenured baseball coach in Long Beach State history.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – John Gonsalves passed away this weekend at the age of 79. The Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Famer served as the head coach for Long Beach State baseball for 19 seasons and is one of four people to have their numbers retired in the 67-year history of the LBSU baseball program.
A member of both the Long Beach City College and Long Beach State Hall of Fame, Gonsalves starred as a player for both programs before playing in the New York Mets organization after prepping for St. Anthony High School in Long Beach.
Turning to coaching, he joined the staff in 1969 and became the head coach prior to the 1970 season, where he would lead the baseball program for 19 seasons. In his first season, Coach Gonsalves led the team to their first Pacific Coast Athletic Association championship with an 11-4 record in league play. He then went on to navigate the program's transition into the SCBA and the Big West, with his best season coming in 1979 when the team went 39-23-3.
Accumulating 460 career wins, Gonsalves has the second-most wins in program history and was inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 1998. He has continued to help the program throughout the years, mentoring players through the entirety of the Dirtbags era.
A member of both the Long Beach City College and Long Beach State Hall of Fame, Gonsalves starred as a player for both programs before playing in the New York Mets organization after prepping for St. Anthony High School in Long Beach.
Turning to coaching, he joined the staff in 1969 and became the head coach prior to the 1970 season, where he would lead the baseball program for 19 seasons. In his first season, Coach Gonsalves led the team to their first Pacific Coast Athletic Association championship with an 11-4 record in league play. He then went on to navigate the program's transition into the SCBA and the Big West, with his best season coming in 1979 when the team went 39-23-3.
Accumulating 460 career wins, Gonsalves has the second-most wins in program history and was inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 1998. He has continued to help the program throughout the years, mentoring players through the entirety of the Dirtbags era.
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